BAKU. May 8, 2009: Freedom of press, speech and expression is one of the most important OSCE principles, said Bilge Cankorel, head of new Baku OSCE office, at today’s press conference when asked by Turan if he will carry on dialogue with the Azerbaijani government to free journalists from jail.  He said Miklosh Harazshti, the OSCE special representative for media freedom, had repeatedly expressed his concern about this matter. The OSCE representative positively assessed the recent release of three journalists from prison and said the OSCE would closely monitor the situation in this field.

Cankorel said resumption of broadcasting of VOA, Radio Liberty and BBC in Azerbaijan “was still under discussion.”

Cankorel said the Baku OSCE office had taken measures to raise confidence between the government and media.  In addition, the OSCE office had been implementing the project to improve professional skills of journalists and teachers of journalism.

The Baku OSCE office is going to continue monitoring of trials and jails to prevent tortures and pressures on the suspects.  The office has been implementing the project to provide technical aid in order to implement the law on protection of rights of detainees.

The OSCE plans to support the opening of regional centers in Azerbaijan in order to help to protect the human rights.

In addition to the areas of democracy, human rights and rule of law, the Baku OSCE office has been also implementing the projects in fields of policy, security, economy and ecology.

The OSCE has been implementing series of projects related to activities of police. They are aimed at raising confidence between police and society and training policemen to match the democratic standards of behavior during mass actions.  The terrorism prevention and border control programs are implemented in the security field.

As far as the economic field is concerned, the OSCE plans to continue the programs to support business and implement corruption prevention programs (Turan).